Incandescent electric light.



J. T. BIGGER.

INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LIGHT. .APPLIOATION FILED APRJ'I. 1908.

939,969. Patented Nov. 16,1909.

JAMES 'r. insane. or ownns'eono, KENTUCKY.

INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHT.

g Specification of Letters l atent.

see-.969.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

n'ji'glication filed April 17, 1908. Serial No. 427,565.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES T. BIGGER, citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and Stateof Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to electric lights of the incandescent type and'aims to devise a novel construction admitting of either a bright light or a comparatively low light, as may be required, the different lights being produced by bringing different filaments into circuit by moving a push-piece, the projecting ends of which constitute in effect buttonsl i The invention combines with the metal end of the bulb a plug of insulatingmaterial having two contacts, each forming a terminal of the respective filaments, anda push-piece slidably mounted in the metal .end of the bulb and provided with a contact which is adapted to close the circuit through either filament of the lampaccordingas a high or a low light may be required, said push-piece having its end portions projected beyond the sides of the said metal end to receive pressure of the hand.

For. a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following descrip- Z tionand accompanying drawings. 1

\Vhile the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawlngs, in which:

Figure l is a side view of an incandescent electric lamp embodying the invention, the end portion being in section to show more clearly the relative arrangement of the parts. Fig. 2. is a detail perspeetiveview showing the insulating plug equipped with the pnshpiece and contacts, and removed from the end of the lamp. Fig. 3 is a detailview in perspective of the plug, the contacts and the push-piece being omitted. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective vicw'of one of ihe contacts fitted to the said plug, an exten sion of the latter being shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the push-piece.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The lamp in general appearance and construction resembles the ordinary incandescent electric lamp and comprises a bulb and a metal end or cap. .Within the bulb are two filaments'l and 2, the one being for a bright lightv and the other for a .compara tively dim light. One terminal of each of the filaments is in electrical connection with the metal end of the lamp, whereas the other terminal of each is electrically connected with a contact fitted to an insulating plug 3 located within the metal end or stem of the lamp. The contact t has one terminal of the filament 1 electrically connected thereto.

The contact 5 has one terminal of the filpush-piece 7 is moved to an intermediate po- 7 Y sition to bring the contact 6 at a point between the eontacts l and 5 without making electrical connection with either, the lamp is thrown out'of circuit or turned off. The metal end of the lamp is adapted to make electrical connection with one wire or lead of a current generator, whereas the contact 8, insulated from the metal end, is adapted to make electrical connection with the other wire or lead of the saidcurrent' generator or source of supply of electricity. A coiled wire a connects the contacts (3 and 8. When the push-piece 7 is moved in one direction to bring the contacts 6 and 4 into electrical connection, the. current iscaused to flow through the filament 1 and a maximum light is produced. When the push-piece 7 is moved to bring the contacts 5 and 6 into engagement, the current is directed through the filament 2 and a minimum or low light 'the contacts are etl'ectual These extensions are formed, with corresponding intermediate oblique grooves 13 so that the adjacent portions of the extensions'constitute tongues which are substantially dovetailed in cross section, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 1, and which carry the respective contacts 4 and 5, the contacts being of similar formation and being of approximately U-form in edge View. The contacts are clamped about the dovetailed tongues, or in other words, straddle thelatter with one leg received in a groove 13 and the other legs disposed at the opposing faces of the extensions, it being noted that inasmuch as the ton ues are dovetailed,

ly retained thereon against accidental displacement. The plug 3 is also formed with an opening 14 in which the push-piece is slidingly mounted, and which communicates with or opens u outwardly through the aforementioned face of the plug between the extensions 12 in order to provlde a clearance for the contact 6 and admit of the latter being readily shifted into engagement with either selected one of the legs of thecontacts 4 and 5 arranged at the opposing faces of the extensions. Attention is also directed to the fact that in addition to itsfunction of carrying the contact 6 and rendering the same susceptible of convenientmanipulation, the pushpiece 7 also serves to support the plu" 3 within the metal end or cap, the former ing otherwise unsecured to the latter.

It is to be understood that the neck or stem of the hub is hermetically sealed in the accustomed manner, so as to prevent the vacuum in the bulb. When the arts are assembled they a pear as indicate in the relation shown in ig. 1. The push-piece is limited in its movements and prevented from lateral displacement by the contact 6, which forms a stop cooperating with the extensions 12 to effect the result stated. When the pushpiece ismoved in one direction, a bright light is the result, and when moved in the opposite direction, a dim or low light is provided, and when moved to an intermediate position the lamp is turned ofl'.-

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis:

1. In an electric lamp, the combination of a terminal cap, a lug mounted therein and provided at one ace with spaced tongues, substantially U-shaped contacts embracing the respective tongues, filaments electrically connected to and controlled by the respective tongues, substantially U-shaped contacts'en bracing the respective tongues and clam e thereon, filaments of diflerent lengths e er. trically connected to and controlled by the respective contacts, and a push-piece. slidably mounted in the plu and provided with a contact adapted to e moved into first named contacts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two w1tnesses.

JAMES T. BIGGER. 1. 8.1

VVitn esses I RoBT. W. LImLL, MINNIE GUTHRIE.

engagement with either selected one of the 

